Costa Rica - Rancho Naturalista

Published by Kevin Easley (ticokid AT racsa.co.cr)

Participants: Kevin Easley plus 14 birders

“Warning - great birding and delicious meals at Rancho Naturalista!” I recently took a group of 14 birders to Rancho Naturalista, the first tour I have taken to Rancho Naturalista since the “warning report” that has been making its way around the web. Our experience was nothing like that described in the report by Andy Walker. I would like to address and set the record straight regarding many of the items that he reported based on my recent experience at Rancho Naturalista and more importantly, the comments about Rancho Naturalista from the group that was with me.

Balcony birds at Rancho Naturalista:

We spent some time on the balcony the first day we were at Rancho Naturalista, here is the list of birds we noted from the balcony that first day. Note: All of these species were seen from the balcony! Heard Species are marked (H).

73 species seen the first day and an additional 14 species were heard only. Total species recorded the first day from the balcony: 87 species

Band-tailed Barbthroat
Violet Sabrewing
Plus at least 4 Snowcaps on a regular basis (3 males and 1 female were seen at one time), there may have been more but it is difficult to tell if the same ones are coming back etc.

In the “warning” report there was mention that most (if not all) of these birds can be found elsewhere in Costa Rica. The word “most” I would agree with simply because that is birding in general. However, the word “all” is not correct as good luck finding Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, Snowcap, Checker-throated Antwren, Dull-mantled Antbird, Tawny-chested and White-throated Flycatchers, and White-crowned Manakin at other locations. Other species that are more widespread but still local which can be found at Rancho Naturalista or in the surrounding area include Sunbittern, Gray-headed Chachalaca, Black-crested Coquette, Rufous Motmot, Spotted and Immaculate Antbirds, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Brown-billed Scythebill, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Black-throated Wren, Scaly-breasted Wren, White-vented Euphonia, Emerald Tanager, Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager, and Black-and-Yellow Tanager to name a few. If you include the difficult Silent Mountain hike then the list gets ridiculous with such mythical species that are regularly encountered on this hike including Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, White-fronted (Zeledon’s) Tyrannulet, and Sharpbill along with a chance to see Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Buff-fronted Quail-Dove, Red-fronted Parrotlet, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Black-banded and Strong-billed Woodcreeper, and LOVELY COTINGA among many others! There are nesting Resplendent Quetzals up there as well.

Meals at Rancho Naturalista:

The group I had was overwhelmed by the delicious meals they had while at Rancho Naturalista. The night before our departure they called the kitchen staff into the dining room and gave them a raucous round of applause. After the applause, one of the guests made a speech thanking the kitchen staff and waiters for all of the great meals, the great variety of meals during our stay, for taking care of the vegetarians or restricted diets of some members in the group so well, and to the waiters for their great service. I personally have been going to Rancho Naturalista for over 10 years with groups and the meals they serve there are always one of the highlights for my guests. The comments in the “warning” report regarding meals is completely unfounded.

Trails at Rancho Naturalista:

As I mentioned above, I have been going to Rancho for over 10 years and the trail system is as good or better now than it ever has been in the past. They also have installed more handrails making it safer than ever. Someone could break a leg on the seemingly safe concrete trails at La Selva! I have not had one of my tour participants injure themselves while on the trails at Rancho Naturalista.

Cleanliness of rooms:

I routinely accompany guests to their rooms after arriving to Rancho Naturalista and have never had any complaints from guests in regards to cleanliness, in fact, they typically look around the room and comment on how nice their room is including the bathrooms. Rancho Naturalista looks better now than ever before in regards to the rooms for guests, the dining room, the balcony…… During my recent stay there was a toilet that acted up in one of the guests rooms which was quickly (within 30 minutes) remedied.

It is quite apparent to me that the author of the “warning” report had a grievance against the owners of the lodge and after departing from Rancho on obviously unpleasant terms that he decided to do whatever he could to damage the reputation of this lodge. Reports back from my guests who have stayed and birded at Rancho Naturalista are overwhelmingly positive as was the case for the group I had there recently.